Storm drain system

ABSTRACT

A storm drain system is provided. The storm drain system incorporates a vertical grate and embodies a method of adapting the vertical grate for allowing sufficient water flow through a vertical opening portion of a storm drain while filtering out debris that would otherwise flow through the vertical opening portion, polluting waterways the storm drain fed into. The vertical grate providing a plurality of intersecting members across the vertical portion for filtering the debris, and helping prevent backed up drains which could render the storm drain ineffective during heavy rains.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication No. 62/218,964, filed 15 Sep. 2015, the contents of whichare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to storm drains and, more particularly, toa storm drain system embodying a vertical grate for preventing trash anddebris that accumulates in city streets from ever going down the stormdrain and eventually going into and polluting our waterways, tributariesand oceans.

The storm drains that populate urban streets typically form an L-shapedopening, with at least a horizontal portion extending along the streetand a vertical portion extending from the street up the sidewall and/orcurb. Currently, storm drain systems provide a horizontal grate but nota vertical grate, leaving the vertical portion unprotected. As a result,nothing prevents trash and large debris from entering the storm drainsthrough the gaping vertical portion, ultimately resulting in pollutionof the waterways the storm drain feeds into.

As can be seen, there is a need for a storm drain system incorporating avertical grate adapted for allowing sufficient water flow whilefiltering out large debris that pollutes our waterways and threatens theexistence of the animals living in and around such waterways.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a system for filtering debrisfrom a vertical portion of a storm drain includes a storm drainproviding the vertical opening portion along a vertical support surfaceand a horizontal opening portion; and a vertical grate secured in frontof or within the vertical opening portion so that the vertical gratesurface is oriented transverse relative to the horizontal openingportion

In another aspect of the present invention, the storm drain systemincludes the storm drain providing the vertical opening portion along avertical support surface and a horizontal opening portion; a supportingbeam disposed between the vertical and horizontal opening portions; avertical grate secured in front of or within the vertical openingportion so that the vertical grate surface is oriented transverserelative to the horizontal opening portion, wherein the vertical grateis supported in part by the supporting beam; and the vertical grateproviding a peripheral frame supporting a plurality of intersectingfirst and second members; at least one of bag catch extending fromeither one of the plurality of first or second members to a portion ofthe peripheral frame nearest the bottom opening portion; and at leastone mounting plate extending from the peripheral frame so as to abut thevertical supporting surface.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of improving apre-existing storm drain having a vertical opening portion along avertical support surface and a horizontal opening portion, wherein ahorizontal grate covers the horizontal opening portion includes thesteps of providing a vertical grate dimensioned to snugly slide into thevertical opening portion; and mounting said vertical grate within thevertical opening portion so that the vertical grate surface is orientedtransverse relative to the horizontal grate.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a storm drainsystem incorporating a vertical grate and embodying a method of adaptingthe vertical grate for allowing sufficient water flow through a verticalopening portion of a storm drain while filtering out debris that wouldotherwise flow through the vertical opening portion, polluting waterwaysthe storm drain fed into. The vertical grate providing a plurality ofintersecting members across the vertical portion for filtering thedebris. Further, the vertical grate is able to help prevent cloggedstorm drains, which is important during heavy rains and can help preventflooding.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 10, the present invention may include astorm drain system 100. The storm drain system 100 may include avertical grate 10, 30 and embody a method of decreasing the flow ofdebris 26 through storm drains.

Storm drains may currently form an L-shaped opening having a horizontalportion extending along a horizontal supporting surface 24 and avertical portion transversely extending from or near the horizontalportion along an adjacent vertical supporting surface 22. Typically, thehorizontal supporting surface 24 is a road, while the verticalsupporting surface 22 is a portion of a sidewalk, such as a curbthereof. Currently, storm drains provide a horizontal grate 20 over thehorizontal portion of the L-shaped opening but not a vertical grate,leaving the vertical portion unprotected.

The storm drain system 100 may provide the vertical grate 10, 30 havinga frame 11 supporting a plurality of spaced apart first members 12, 32intersecting spaced apart second members 13. The vertical grate 10, 30may be made of any material of suitable strength and corrosion and rustresistance, such as galvanized steel. The frame 11 can be substantiallyrectangular, square, rounded or other geometric shape, while theplurality of first and second members 12, 13 may be configured in anyarray and/or number, so long as the vertical grate 10, 30 functions inaccordance with the present invention as described herein. The spacedapart, intersecting first and second members 12, 13 define a pluralityof flow spaces 16 dimensioned to provide a sufficient flow of fluid,such as rain water. For example, the plurality of flow spaces 16 can bedimensioned to meet local regulatory requirements for rain waterflow/volume through a storm drain, while still providing theintersecting first and second members 12, 13 across the vertical portionof the storm drain opening. Moreover, one flow space 16 may differ inshape and dimensions from other flow spaces 16, as the spacing ofadjacent first and second members 12, 13 may vary even within the sameframe 11.

The frame 11 may provide at least one mounting bracket 14, 34 extendingtherefrom for attaching to the vertical supporting surface 22. Eachmounting bracket 14, 34 may provide at least one fastener hole, eachfastener hole adapted to operably received a support fastener 18 forconnecting the frame 11 to the vertical supporting surface 22. Thesupport fastener 18 may be expansion bolts/anchors and the like, as thesupporting surfaces tend to be concrete, rock and the like.

Typically, in pre-existing storm drains, there is a supporting beam 28between the horizontal portion and the vertical portion of the opening,where a portion of the pre-existing horizontal grate 20 connects to, asillustrated in FIG. 4. As a result, the supporting beam 28 defines apart of the vertical opening of the storm drain.

In certain embodiments, a first member 32 nearest the bottom of theframe 11 may provide at least one bag catch 36 extending to the bottomof the frame. By the term “bottom”, it is understood to be an edge ofthe frame 11 nearest the horizontal supporting surface/portion, forexample nearest the supporting beam in certain embodiments, as in fluidflows to the lowest (bottom) level under the force of gravity. When bagcatches 36 are provided, typically the first member 32 providing themmay be oriented generally parallel with the bottom of the frame 11,while each bag catch 36 is generally transversely joined thereto, asillustrated in FIGS. 8-10. It be understood that “joining” may includewelding and other joining methods.

In certain embodiments, a vertical grate 10 may include the following:galvanized 1½″ structural ribbing (1½″ × 3/16″) with 1¼ spacing; 4″galvanized mounting brackets with ½″ ×4″ recessed expansion boltssecured by epoxy; overall dimensions approximately 6″ ×6″, variesaccording to size of storm drain; and welded ribs, flush mounted,recessed bolts galvanized, ½″ ×4″ expansion bolts epoxied, ¾″ clearanceminimal from horizontal supporting surface 24 to allow for water flow.It being understood that dimensions are not intended to be limited tothose described above; rather, the dimensions are exemplary of possibleembodiments of the present invention, as exact measurements andconfigurations will depend on size and location of the storm drain to beimproved. The same concept would apply to large storm water culvertdrains through, in certain embodiments, rounded vertical grates 10, forexample.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. Thestorm drain system 100 disclosed herein may be provided. A user maydimension the vertical grate 10, 30 so that when secured itsubstantially covers the vertical opening portion and is orientedtransverse to the horizontal grate. In certain embodiments, the verticalgrate 10, 30 may be secured to the vertical supporting surface 22 byflush mounting each mounting bracket 14, 34 thereto so that the verticalgrate 10, 30 slides into at least a portion of the vertical portion. Insome embodiments, the vertical grate 10, 30 may be supported by thesupporting beam 28. It should be understood that the vertical grate 10,30 may be attached other ways as long as it covers the vertical openingso that the intersecting first and second members 12, 13 are generallydisposed within or in front of said vertical portion.

The flush mounting may include drilling holes in the vertical supportingsurface 22 so that support fastener 18 may be used through therespective fastener holes of each mounting bracket 14, 34.

Once installed, debris 26 is prohibited from entering the verticalportion of the storm drain, because the vertical grate 10 acts as asieve, allowing water to flow freely, while filtering said debris 26, asillustrated in FIG. 4.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for filtering debris from a verticalportion of a storm drain, comprising: a storm drain providing thevertical opening portion along a vertical support surface and ahorizontal opening portion; and a vertical grate secured in front of orwithin the vertical opening portion so that the vertical grate surfaceis oriented transverse relative to the horizontal opening portion. 2.The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one mounting plateextending from the vertical grate so as to abut the vertical supportingsurface.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the vertical grate furthercomprises a peripheral frame supporting a plurality of intersectingfirst and second members.
 4. The system of claim 3, further comprisingat least one of bag catch extending from either one of the plurality offirst or second members to a portion of the peripheral frame nearest thebottom opening portion.
 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising asupporting beam disposed between the vertical and horizontal openingportions, and wherein the vertical grate is supported in part by thesupporting beam.
 6. A system for filtering debris from a verticalportion of a storm drain, comprising: a storm drain providing thevertical opening portion along a vertical support surface and ahorizontal opening portion; a supporting beam disposed between thevertical and horizontal opening portions; a vertical grate secured infront of or within the vertical opening portion so that the verticalgrate surface is oriented transverse relative to the horizontal openingportion, wherein the vertical grate is supported in part by thesupporting beam; and the vertical grate comprising: a peripheral framesupporting a plurality of intersecting first and second members; atleast one of bag catch extending from either one of the plurality offirst or second members to a portion of the peripheral frame nearest thebottom opening portion; and at least one mounting plate extending fromthe peripheral frame so as to abut the vertical supporting surface.
 7. Amethod of improving a pre-existing storm drain having a vertical openingportion along a vertical support surface and a horizontal openingportion, wherein a horizontal grate covers the horizontal openingportion, comprising the steps of: providing a vertical grate dimensionedto snugly slide into the vertical opening portion; and mounting saidvertical grate within the vertical opening portion so that the verticalgrate surface is oriented transverse relative to the horizontal grate.